Automatic chime



. 8, 1931. P. M. RODET ETAL AUTOMATIC CRIME Filed April 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 12.777. Bade t Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL M. RODET, JOHN .A. CHRISTENSEN, AND MEDI'OBD A. GBIEVE, 0] L03 ANGEL, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC cnmn Application flled pril 17, 1980. Serial No. 445,127.

Our invention relates to an automatic chime of the type operated by a push button in which one operation of the button starts the chime in operation, and this chime continues ringing until the cycle of the particular musical tune has been completed.

An object of our invention is a musical chime in which a push button or the like connected to an electric circuit is utilized to start the operation of an electrically controlled rotating device, and this rotating device establishes circuits which operate electrical mechanical hammers which strike the various gongs of the chimes in the desired order to give the particular musical tune of the chime.

A further and more detailed object of our invention is utilizing the electrical push button or the like to start the operation of an electric motor, and this'motor carries a rotary circuit closer which establishes difi'erent circuits to a plurality of electromagnetically operated hammers which hammers strike the variousgongs and produce the musical tune of the chime. In this connection, we

preferably use solenoids with a striker connected to the armature to form the hammers.

Another feature of our invention comprises the use of suitable mechanism which may be connected to the standard house electric circuit, that is, we use step-down transformers in connection with the usual 110 volt circuit to give a relatively low volta to operate the motor and utilize a stepown current to operate the solenoids, and inthis connection we may, if there were only a few gongs in the chimes, use a single transformer to o erate both the motor and the solenoids, or i there are a considerable'number'of gongs we find it desirable to use two or more transformers, one being for the motor circuit and the other for the gong circuit.

Another feature of our invention is in connection with the motor circuit in which the push button functions only to start the motor and make a connection by a brush operating on the cam shaped rotor contact, so that when the motor is once started through the push button, the brush contact carries the motor current.

28 bears against the spool an Our invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an installation of our chimes taken in the direction of the arrow 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a partial inside elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 4 of Fig. 2 showmg the rotary circuit closer, a transformer and rheostat mountings, etc.;

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows, showing the circuit closer for the motor circuit;

Fig. 6 is a detailed vertical section onthe lme 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing the brush connection to the rotary circuit closer; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic electrical diagram. v

In the illustrations, a building wall is indicated generally by the numeral 11. This has an upper opening 12 and a lower openmg 13. In the upper opening there is inserted an upper panel 14, and in the lower 0 ning a lower panel 15. The upper anel 1s i1- lustrated as having a lurahty o hooks 16 which are screw threa ed through openings and suspend the gongs 17, the suspension beng illustrated by a flexible core 18 connectmg to a plug 19 in the top of the tubular gong. Be ind the upper panels there are, positioned a pluralit of solenoids 20, each of which is illustrate as having a spool 21 with an electric winding 22 thereon, and with an armature 23 slidable through the solenoid. e cores are illustrated as formedin two sections. This armature has a magnetic section 24 and preferably a brass section 25, the latter having a pad 26 mounted on the other end. A pin 27 extends through the rear portion of the armature and a com ression sp this pin :35

thus maintains the armature retracted, so that on energizing each solenoid, the armatures are forced outwardly, thus striking the e lower panel 15 carries a rheostat designated generally at 29' which has an operating knob. 30 on the outer side of the panel, so that the resistance in the electric circuits as hereinunder detailed may be varied. The lower panel also carries a shelf'31 on which is mounted an electric motor 32 and-a circuit ing the support for the brush 38. The shaft 35 extends through this disk 39 and carries a rotary arm 42 on the remote side of the disk. This arm has a spring pressed brush 43 which is adapted to engage a series of electrical contacts 44 positioned around the disk. A brush 45 is mounted on the bolt 40 and bears against the motor shaft 35 forming part of the circuit for the circuit closer. (Note Fig. 6.)

In Fig. 7 of the electrical diagram, the disk 39 and the cam shaped contactor 36 are illustrated as being on the shaft ofthe motor 32, but for convenience of illustration are indicated on opposite sides. There are two solenoids, both indicated at 20, and a first transformer 34. There are a-series of contacts 46 on the disk 39 which are wiped over by the brush 43 in the rotation of the arm 42 which is driven by the motor. The circuits maybe traced as follows; Presuming the current is from the transformer 34, this may be indicated as passing through the lead 47,

thence through the rheostat 29 and a lead 48 to a brush 49 on the motor. The opposite side of the opposite brush of the motor is grounded to the motor frame at 50 and a lead 51 connects with the push button 52. A second lead 53 fromthe push button connects to a lead 54 which is connected to the transformer. This cir cuit, therefore, functions to initially energize the motor and start its rotation as the motor comes to rest with the brush 38 out of contact with the conducting cam 36 in .the position illustrated in Fig. 5. As soon as the motor starts and the brush 38 contacts with the cam 36, the return current is through the shaft 35 of the motor to the conducting cam 36, thence through the brush 38 and the leads 56 and 54 connecting to the transformer. This therefore establishes a current to maintain the motor in operation after the push button has been released. The circuit for ringing the chimes using a single transformer follows the lead 47, the rheostat 29, the lead 48 to the brush 49 of the motor, thence through the shaft 55 to the arm 42,

following the brush 43 which engages the from the transformer, there may not be sufficient generated with the ordinary small 6 volt transformer to operate the motor.

7 Where it is desired to use a large number ofgongs or a large number of contacts which may draw more current than can operate the motor and the gongs, we may provide a second transformer indicated at 34. This is illustrated as having a lead 62' shown dotted, which is shown as being connected to the brush 45 which connects to the motor shaft. The circuit is then through the contacts 46, the leads 56', 57, 58 and 59 to the solenoids, thence to the return lead 61 and a dotted lead 63, to the second transformer. Where this circuit is used to operate the gongs, the lead 62 from a transformer 34 is omitted. The electric connection from the bolt 40 between the brush 38 and 45 is interconnected by the dotted connection 64.

From the above construction and circuits, it will be seen that we have developed a mechanism for ringing chimes in which an electrically o erated device moving a rotary brush, suc device being for sim licity a small electric motor, makes a series Q contacts and these contacts are carried to the proper sole-- noids to strike the gongs in the proper sequence and thus give the desired tune. By regulating the current through the rheostat the tempo may be varied, that is, the gongs may be caused to sound at a short interval or at a greater time spacing. Loudness of the sound may also be regulated by adjusting the gongs in relation to the armature, and this may be-readily done by adjusting the hooks 16 in the panel 14. It will be apparent that other electric circuits may be utilized to connect to the gongs havingthe fundamental idea, however, of a rotating brush which moves over a series of contacts in the desired sequence to operate the gongs.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device as described comprising a rota ry circuit closer having a plurality of fixed motor and means to bring said circuits into operation after the start of the motor, and means to open the second motor circuit after a pre-determined operation of such motor.

2. A device as described comprising in combination anelectric motor havinga first motor circuit with a switch, a second motor circuit having a brush and a contact moved by the motor, the first circuit starting the motor and the second circuit contining the power for the motor, the second circuit being opened after pro-determined operation by the motor a rotary circuit closer having a plurality of fixed contacts, and a rotary brush operated by the motor, a plurality of solenoids, each having a moving armature and each in circuit with at least one of the contacts, and a gong positioned to be sounded by the armature of each solenoid.

, 1y start the motor,

trio motor,

3. A device as described comprising in combination an electric motor having a rotary shaft, a first circuit having a switch to initia a second circuit having a conducting element on the shaft and a brush to engage said element, said second circuit continuing the operation of the motor and being opened after pre-determined period of operation, a rotary circuit closer having a series of fixed contacts and a brush connected to the said shaft, a plurality of solenoids, each havin an armature, a circuit to each solenoid i i-om at least one of the contacts, and a gong positioned to be sounded by the armature of each solenoid.

' 4. A device as described com rising in combination a motor having a shaft driven there by, a transformer, a first motor circuit from the secondary of the transformer thru a switch, a second motor circuit from the transformer thru a brush, and a rotatable electric contact operated by the said shaft and said contact having means to open the secondnir cuit after pro-determined operation by the motor, a rotary circuit closer having a pluralit of fixed contacts, by the said shaft, there bein a connection from the brush" to the trans ormer, a pluhaving a plurality of fixed contacts and a rotary brush operated by the said shaft, a plurality of solenoids each having a movable armature, a circuit from each solenoid to one or more of the contacts and thru the rotary brush, and a gong positioned to be sounded by each armature. In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

PAUL M. RODET.

JOHN A. CHRISTENSEN.

M. A. GRIEVE.

and a brush rotated rality of solenoids each having an armature,

a circuit from each solenoid to one or more of the contacts and a return circuit from the solenoids to the transformer, and a gong for each solenoid positioned to be sounded by the armature.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 solenoid circuits having a transformer, separate circuits from the motor circuits. l

6. A device as described comprising an eleca shaft driven thereby, a circuit to operate the motor having a rheostat therein, a first control means to start the motor, a second control means having a brush, and a rotatable contactoperated by the shaft having means to open the circuit between the contact and the brush after pre-determined operation of the motor, a rotary circuit closer 

